Voting-machine



PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

C. M. WARNER.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1907.

6 SHIBBTSSHEHT l.

A TTOANH 1 5 PATENTED DEG. s, 1907."

VINO

0. M. WARNER.

I VOTING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 21, 1907- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I \w NM Em m wg - mW /NkfNTO/C A TTOR/VE V5 No; 872,704. PATENTED DEG. 3,1907.

' 0 M WARNER VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB, 21, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4L ChfemMWwr m 1mm v ,1 [TOR/V1516 PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. c; M. WARNER. VGING MACHINE. AILLIOE ION FILED 313.21, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SEEET 5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE MOR RIS WARNER, OF CAMBRIDGE, ILLINOIS.

OTING-MACHINF Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed February 21. 1907. Serial No. 35B.678.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, CLARENCE M. WAR- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Voting-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This lnventionhas reference to improvements in voting machines, -and its ob ect is to produce a machine wherein avoter can press a key to register a vote for the candiwhereby a register of the num er of voters is made, no matter for how many candidates .the voter may express his choice.

-tions to the r The invention also comprises means whereby the entire mechanism may be'reset at one operation after a voter has expressed his choice, either by a person duly authorized for the purpose or' by suitable connecour of the voting booth so that when a voter leaves the booth the machine will be reset ready for the next voter. I 'l'he invention also comprises means whereby certain portions of the voting mechanism may be coupled to provide for the different manner in which voting is practiced at different places.

The invention also comprises means whereby certain of the voting keys ma be locked in an inoperative position wit out affecting the operation of any oftheother keys, so that the machine is adapted to be used for a number of candidates less than the total number of candidates for which the locking the machine in part oras a whole against action.

The invention also comprises means whereby the portions of the voting machine constituting the top thereof may be readily removed for the changing of names, ,but this =-part of the machine is so constructed that these names cannot be changed by unauthor- 1zed persons.

The invention also comprises other features which, together with those already mentioned, will be fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the 1m roved voting machine, with a portion of t 1e top broken away to disclose the interior, and

other portions shown in section; Fig. v2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine on aline adjacent to the several corresponding sections of the several tiers of names of candidates and the votin keys therefor; Fig. 3 is'a crosssection on t 1e line ::::c of Fig. 2 showing one only of the card receptacles for receiving-tile votes not named among the regular candidates; Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine adjacent to the locking device for the entire machine with the end of the cabinet broken away to display the mechanism immediately adjacent thereto; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partially in section and partially broken away, of a portion of the topof the cabinet; Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away and artlally in section, of one end of one of the key locking slides and adjacent parts; Figs.' 7 and 8 are perspective views of the transmitting key-operated slide bars; Fig. 9 is a detail view showim the locking mechanism for the devices used to lock or unlock the operating parts of the machine in whole. or in part; Fig. 10 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the register and operating mechanism adjacent thereto, intended to record the number=of voters usingthe machine; and Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the push-buttons or voting-key heads.

Referrin to the drawings, there is shown a rectangu ar, box-like structbre l. of metal or wood or both having its interior divided into a number of spaces by parallel longitudinal partitions 2 extending from end to end of the machine, and with the exception of the lower half of that portion of the machine reserved for votes for other than the regular candidates, these partitions extend from top to bottom of the machine. These partitions are suflicient in number to provide supports for the operating mechanism. to be-her'einafter described, and while I prefer to construct the machine with such partitions it'is quite evident that other means for supporting. the voting mechanism may be used.

llU

- the 0r plates. Suitable securing bolts or rivets each cover section 12 together. The descripment between the plates 4 and 5.

- plates containing the names of candidates to The top of the cabinet is so constructed I that it may be removed' in sections as desired. F or this purpose there is provided ati points suitably spaced from the ends of the cabinet and at other points intermediate of these end points com ouud cross-bars 3, the construction of whic 1 is best shown in Fig. 5. These bars are composed of a top plate 4, a bottom plate 5. and an intermediate platc'fi having a limited longitudinal move- The top and bottom lates 4 and 5 are coupled together by bo lts, screws or rivets 7 passing through longitudinal slots 8 in the intermediate plate 6 to permit and to limit the extent of 'longitudlnal movement of the said plate 6. One lon itudinal edge of the plates 4 and 5 extends beyond the corresponding edge of the plate 6, so that the two plates L constitute the side and bottom walls of a groove, while on the other longitudinal edgep the plates are all flush except that there ls l provided a projecting tootht) on the intermedia'te plate 6. Along the median line of the cross-bar 3-are a number of perforations or passages 10 extending througl'i all three portions of the bar, while.thelperforations 10 through the bar 6 are elongated into slots 1 1 of less diameter than the perforations. Th'ese erforations and slots 10 and 11 perform a unctionwhich will hereinafter appear.

Between the several cross-bars 3 and also between those nearest-the ends of t-he cahinet and the end .walls .of the cabinet are placed a'se'rie's of cover sections 12,'niost clearly shown in Fig. 5. These cover sections are also composite in structure, consisting of top plates 13, bottom lates 14, and intermediate plates 15. The ottom plates 14 are continuous or unbroken except at the point 16 where they are notched to receive the rojection or tooth S] on the sliding mem er .6 of the-bar 3. The upper plate 13 of each section 12 is provided with slots 17 arranged transversely of the plate but when p ate is in position these slots extend longitudinall ,of the top of the casing. The member 15 0 each cover" section 12 is divided into ap ro riate sections to act as spacing blocks or t as top and bottom plates 13 and 14 and these'spacing blocks are omitted be ow the slots 17. Space is therefore: provided for the insertion of card or namee voted for and these names will shoe through the slots 17'. When the slotted'top sections of the cover are removed these names may be changed, and since when thes sections are in place they are locked, only authorized persons can change the name-cards 18 are employed to fasten the members of tion of these-top sections thus far given does not, however, apply to'the top SeGtiOIl-'PI0 12 is formed with a tongue 20 made by slightly projecting the member 15 beyond the corresponding edges of the plates 13 and 14 of the section. 'Thetop 05 the casing is assembledby introducing the tongue 20 of a sect-ion 12 into the corresponding groove formed along the edge of one of the bars 3,

while theother edge of the section is lowered until the tooth or projection 9 passesthrou'gh the notch 16 in the bottom plate 14, it being assumed that at this time the late 6 has been moved in, the appropriate irection to the full extenL'iif-its travel. When the section 12 has heenlowcred suflicicntlyto cause the tooth 9 to engage under the upper projecting wall of the plate 13 it will hold the section 12 from further downward movement. The notch 16 is at one end of'a space between two contiguous spaci members 15 of a section 12, and isonly a out one-halt the width of that space, so that'the member 1 6 of the bar 3.may 0 moved in a direction to cause thetooth 9 to become lodged between the plates 13 and 14' and thus lock the top section 12 from removal. p p

The sliding member 6 of the cross-bar 3 pro j cots beyond the edge of the casing to provide a manipulating end 21 hy'which it may be moved longitfidinally when desire'd,but in order to prevent any unauthorized manipulation of this sliding member 6 there is provided on the inside of the casing a suitable lock 22, the bolt 23 of which may be moved into a suitable perforation in, the plate 6 through a corresponding perforation in the plate 5. This perforation is so situated that the bar' may be locked when moved to its innermost position between the plates 4 and 5. The lock 23 may he reached by a suitable key through a. keyhole 24.

In order to fasten the bars' 3 securely in place, there are provided bolts 25 passing through suitable perforations in the plates 4 and 5 and the slots 8 in the plate.6.' These holts which may, if desired, replace some or all of the belts or screws 7 before mentioned, extend down alongside of the partitions 2 and have one end 26 turned at an angle to enter suitable perforations in'sai -Directl y beneath the perforatiohs 10 in each b er 3 there is a vertically-moving slidin bar .27, the upper end of which is formed wit partitions- .in order to engage the same and thereby lock the cross-bars 3firmly in place.

an elongated socket 28 and near the lower end of which the bar is formed with a head 29 having two approaching beveled faces 30-31 at its lower end merging into a downwardly-extending stem 32. The bar may be supported for longitudinal movement in appropriate brackets on the partitions 2, and its upper socket end 28 is of such size as to receive the cylindrical end 33 of a push-button 34, the stem 35 of which is of less diameter than the end 33. .The diameter of the cylindrioal end 33 is such that it will pass through theperforations 10 in the three members of the bar 3 when the perforations therein are coincident, but the slots 11 are of such width as to prevent the passage of the cylindrical ends 33 of the push-buttons through them, but will permit the passage of the smaller stems 35. It will thus be seen that when a push-button has been introduced through a perforation l0 and seated in a socketed end 28'- of a bar 27 and the sliding member 6 has been pushed in the proper direction to cause the walls 'of the slot 11 to straddle the stem 35 of the push button, the latter is securclylocked against removal but may have a limited movement equal to the distance between the head 34 and the top of the cross-bar 3. This distance is ordinarily sufficient to operate the mechanism controlled by the bar 27, but for certain purpose, which will hereinafter appear, I may use push-buttons 36 having stems 35 so short that the movement of the push-button is practically eliminated. The cylindrical portions 33 of the push-buttons are not fastened in the sockets 28 so that when a short-stem push-button is used the push-bar 27 may move to the extent of its lon itudinal travel'without the push-button itse 1 moving. The push-button constitutes a guide for the upper end of the push-bar 27. It will be seen that by making the perforations 10 in. all the bars 3 alike andthc slots 1.1 in all the platesrfi alike these long and short push-buttons may be interchangeable as desired and the purpose of this interchangeability will appearfurther on.

In each compartment between the partitions 2 near the bottom thereof and bridging the spaces between the bars 27 are sliding frames 37 and 38, the frames 38 being similar to the frames 37 except that they are shorter.

The frames 37 are best shown in Fig. 7 and the frames 38..are best shown in Fig. 8

These frames 37 and 38 are rectangularin sha 6' consisting of two side bars, as shown, wit acentral cross-bar, or more, 1f necessary, and two beveled end cross-bars 39- lO. The

' side bars of the frame 37 are extended beyond the cross-bar 39, "as shown at 4 1,: The seyeral frames 37 and 38 in'eachcompartment formed by thepartitions 2' aresupported at 1 their ends by brackets 42, fast on,the partitions 2 in such manner that, these frames may-slide longitudinally in the brackets, and

thesaid frames arose-placed that the'endsv 4 1- of one frame will shut against the'beveled end-bar 40 of the next ad acent frame but the frame 33 is locatedat the end. of the *sel ries and has no abutting extensions 4'1. The

ends 41 oftho frames 3-7 arc of'suc-h length that the contiguous beveled surfaces of the 611(lfl) ars 39 and so of twoabutting frames are spaced apart a greater distance thanthdis- I tance between the beveled faces 30' and= 31 of the head 29 of a bar 27, the head 29 being in normal position so'located that its beveled facej30 is in contact withthebeveled face :of

the end-bar 40 of a frame .37, so thatwheh the bar 27 is pushed downward'by the proper 'contact withfthe next-adjacent frame 37 or 38 all those frames in advance of the particu lar frame 37 under consideration will participate in this movement It will be understood, of course, that suitable brackets may also serve to guide the lower ends of the sliding orpush-bars 27. The push-bars 27,

therefore, may be entirely supported and guided by such. brackets at the lower end and the stems 33 of the push buttons 34 at the upper end, although this does not preclude the use of other supporting means for the push-bars 27 if such be desirable. 1

The push-bar 27 ad'acent to the section of the. machine reserved for votes for candi dates not named on the machine has onehalf of the head 2-9 omitted and this head is provided with the beveled face 30 only, since there is 110-frame 37 beyond it. Upon each puslnbar 27 adjacent to the name of a candidate there is provided a short distance above the head 29 a laterally-projecting lug 43 engaged on its upperface by the ballhead 44 of a rocker arm 45 fast'on a rock 7 shaft 46 extending laterally through the several compa-rti'nents and beyond the/side of the machine to which a voter is admitted Where. it contains a crank 47 and handle 48,

so that shouldythc voter desire to votea straight party ticket :needuonly move the l'iandle-dtfimnd the crank dlthrough a suiiicient-larc to causeallthe rocker arms 15 to engage the-lugs 43 of. all the'push bars 27 corresponding tcthelentire party ticket; As

will hereinafter appear-,gthis-Will cause the registering of one voteeac'h forall the party nominees Whose names arefound in the list of candidates under the head of that particular,politicalparty; N ow, ino-rder to provide 3 i's'tering;apparatus which-Izwillinow proceed 1 to describe. Near the upper section of the casing and in each space adjacent to the push buttons 34., corresponding to the candidates names there is a transverse shaft 49 which may be simply a fixed bar passing through the sides of the casing and there receiving nuts 50 so that the bar serves as a means for bracing and securing the sides of the'casing together. Upon this bar, in the spaces between the partitions and beneatl'l the candidates names but not I, cneath the party name is a large toothed wheel 51 having ratchet teeth 52 on its mriphery and also formed with a laterally-projecting drum 53 term inating at the end remote from the ratchet wheel 51 in another ratchet wheel 54 of smaller diameter than the ratchet wheel 5] and having its teeth disposed in the opposite direction.

On one side face of the ratchet wheel 51 and overhanging the drum 53 is a continuous annular series of large teeth 55, each of which is provided with a definite number of smaller teeth.v In practice the smaller teeth willbe ten in number for each larger tooth, and

therewill be as many as desired of these larger teeth on the ratchet wheel 51, so that by lneansof a registering device to be hereinafter referred to the number of times the toothed wheel 51 is moved a distance of one tooth will be automatically recorded in multiples of ten, with the, individual numbers less than ten less prominently recorded whereby the tabulation of the vote will be The means for actuatgreatly simplified; mg these registering devices is as follows. There is a link 56 fast at the point 57 to the corresponding partition 2, and the other end I of this link is slotted, as shown at 58, to reeeive a pin 59 fast on the adjacent push-bar 27. The link 56 carries a pawl 60 having a head 61 so shaped as to engage the teeth of tho ratchet wheel 54 in amanner to pull the ratchet wheel 51. upon its axis cmmterclock wise as viewed in Fig. 2. This will occur whenever the push-1m, 27 is d eyn'essed. 'Thc pawl 60 is maintained in "operative relation to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 by a suitable spring62. Carried by each push-bar 27 is another pawl 63 in engagement with the teeth 52 on the periphery of the ratchet wheel 51 and so located as to tendto prevent the rotation of the ratchet wlieel 51 in the direction in which it is in'ipelled by the pawl 60. The .HLWl. 63' moves up and down with the push-liar 27, and immediately hmieath the end of the pawl where it, engages the' teeth 52 is an upright fixed plate 64 fast on one of the partitions 2, and also overhanging the top of the pawl at a point close toit-s point of engagement with the teeth 52 is another fixed plate 65 curved around. the piv-' otal end of the pawl and extended downward for a distance, thence laterally, and' finally joining the plate 64: to which it may be riveted or otherwise secured so that the s ze, 704

late 65 is also fixed against movement. lhe plates 64 and 65 constitute a guiding cage for the pawl 63, so that when the bar 27 is depressed the pawl is immediately drawn into the space between. the plates 64 and 65 by the engagement of the plate 64 with its free end. When the bar 27 is moved upwardly'the free end of the pawl engages the curved overhanging portion of the plate 65 and. is guided to and througl'ia threat pawl 63 is immediately disengaged fromthe teeth 52, leaving the ratchet wheel 51 free to be rotated by the pawl 60, and as soon as the push-bar 27 is elevated again this wheel is locked against further rotation by the pawl 63. The cage formed by the plates 64 and s5 65 rendersit unnecessary to have a spring to actuate the pawl 63, and thus a weak element, namely, a spring, is in this particular instance avoided. Now, suppose a voter shall depress one of the keys 34. It will be.

soon that the ratchet wheel will be rotated a distance of one tooth but at the same time the beveled face 30 on th head 29 engages a beveled end-bar 40 of the frame 37 and the result is that the frame 37 moved longitu- 9.5

dinally toward the next pr ilrbar 27 and its beveled end-bar 39 will a )ut against the beveled face 31 of the next adjacent push-bar 27,

thus locking the same against downward movement, while the extensions 41 of the same frame 37 will engage and push the next succeeding frame 37 into like looking position for the next succeeding push-bar 27, and so on throughout the whole series until finally the end frame 38 of the series, is also pushed..10 5

"longitudinally a like distance.

Upon each push-bar 27 on .the. side oppo-. site the lug 43 but near to the latter is another lug 66in the path of which as it moves downward is a ball-head 67 of a rock arm 68 fast on a rock shaft 69 extending laterall through the partitions 2. Fast on this roc shaft 69 in thechamber between thelast partition 2 and the side of the casing nearest to the voter is an angle arm 70 extending upr15 ward to a point adj aeent to the transverse shaf t 49, which latter will serve as a stop for the arm 70 during one phase of itsmovement. Atthe upper end the arm 70 is ivot'ally connected to a .bar 71 extending l ,through the machine for a sufficient distance to c'omlect all the arms 70 fast on all the rock shafts 69 located in the machine, there being one rock shaft 69 for each longitudinal series of push-bars 27. vided so that when any one of the push are 2.7 is depressed the entire series of rock shafts 69 will be moved on their axes. Q

Located .in th'ecom artinent between the partition 2 and the si ongitudinally 12.0

This arrangement is ro- I e of the casing remote from the voter is another counter consisting of a ratchet wheel 51 with its'llrum 53, ratchet wheel 54 and pawls 60 and 63, all as before described. In operative relation to this counter or register is a push-bar 27 which :I may term a dummy push-bar since it is not under the control of a push-button 34. This push-bar 27 is provided with a lug 66, as before, and another opposing lug 72 adjacent to but spaced therefrom, and be- 'tween these two lugs engages the bail-head 73 of a roek arm 74 fast on the last rock shaft 69 at the end of the machine remote from that end reserved for the casting of votes for candidates whose names do not appear upon the machine. Now, when any one of the push-buttons is depressed by avoter and the push-bars 2-7 likewise dcpressed, thus actuating the connected series of rock shaft-sas before described, the arm 7-1 through its head 73 will engage the lug,72 on the dummy push-bar 27 and thereby actuate the additional register. by onetooth. W'hen once actuated this register cannot again be actuated until the machinejs once more set for a new voter, since the ushing down of one push-bar 27 has carrier all the arms 68 out of enga ement with the lugs 66 on all the othenpus -ba.rs 27 and all these push-bar's are therefore inactive so far' as this one particularregister is concerned. This register therefore constitutes a means for recording the number of voters whohave Y used the machine, s nce it'can be actuated but once by each voter and im'rri ediately be coines inactive no matter how many other push-buttons 34 the voter may ma'nipulate' In order to produce a record of the vote cast that may be easily read so as to facilii'ate the tabulation, of the vote, there is provided for each register a reel 75 containing a paper or other suitable strip. Each reel is mug in brackets 76 fast on the partitions 2, or, in the case of the voter register, upon the partitions 2 and the side of the casing adjacent thereto. The paper or other strip upon. this reel has its end secured to the drum 53 by a clip 77 so as to rotate with said drum. livotally secured to an adjacent partition 2 or the side of the casing, as the case may be, is an angle-bracket 78, the -free end of which is formed into an eye 79 fonthe reception of a pencil point S0 arranged to bear -up on'.thc strip coming: from the reel 75. Pivoted to llll bracket 78 is a spring arm 81 having a art arranged to bear upon the pencil and terminating in an n turned finger 82 arranged to be engaged )y one of the cover sed- {ions 12 when in place on the machine, so that the spring arm 81 will maintain the peneil [[UlH-(Llll contact with the recording strip with a yielding pressure. which provides a means for taking up the wear on the pencil point,

Upon the cndof the pivoted bracket 78 is formed a tooth R3 arrangedt-o engage actuated, and thlarger teet of the smaller teeth, preferably embracing v ten of the smaller-teeth, and, for convenience,

.dredvotes. In orderT 'tbat-"the re the smaller teeth formed on the lar e teeth 55 overhanging the drum 53. The bracket 78- is made of spring metal so thatthep'i-z icil point may be moved laterally asit is engaged by the large teeth 55 and also by'th' smaller teeth thereon; The smaller --'teeth correspond in number. to the teeth ,c'n-tho ratchet wheel 54 so. tl'i'a't they' indicatethe number of times thattlie regkister belen are'in. tipit is desirable that one complete rotationidi .the register should correspond to one hundre actuations thereof. Now, in'orde'r top'r'ovide a means for indicating the numbcr'of times each register has been completely rotated, there is rovided a bracketj84lufpon which is journa ed a disk 85 provided-with .a number of laterally projecting studs '86 arranged for enga ementwith asto 87 on one 7 side ofthe ratcliet wheel 5l,so't at at-each rotation of thelatter'the. stop 87 willen a'g'e one of the studs '86 and inov'c' "it a definite distance which will agree to, say,"' olncj h'un disk 85- mavrea'd easily; .tlie-brac formed with "a pointing finger'88. For the purpose of resetting the mac when the v0 ter has finished .his'yotingg th shaft 69, shown. at} the "left. "1,1 5'and 2, is providedoiitsiide of the I side remote. from that which the-wig: admitted and within reaciitfan autli'orig'ed person, say, one-of the iudges, i ritl fa' ma- 4 nipulating handle 89 B. r fliim fis the shaft 69 all the s vere iish-bars z'miiat have been dept connecting bar 71, the several mas the rock arms-68, to operativ the.

sition. At the same time other rock iii-111590 fast on the, rock Siam-ea a sins;

sliding frames 38 and through} emiwill'caiis ni ulatinghandle 89 willengage b I ha l-heads 91 the-center crossiece '0 allth'e the longitudinal movement of all-the'slidih'g 7 frames 37 totheir original position, that the machine is again ready for another vcte'r Q When a less number of candidates-are be voted for than that for whicl 'thdmachinc bars which will correspond to th ofli eesfoiwhich there are no candidates; For' this urpose there-is arranged at thelef t-haiid end ofthe machine, as viewed in" Figs-.1 and 2 a cross-bar 92 extendin chine adjacent to the ens 'of'the slid ng frames 38 nearest the-corresponding end o the casing.- Attached to this crosssbar' arenumber of slidi block's'93 having'ttheir ,115' is designed, provision is made for lockingcut of operation those longitudinal lines-of pushlower ends bevel as shown at-94,'.ai dfast on the cross-bar 92 by means of screws'95 'assing through slots 96 in said blocks 93.

he construction is such that the blocks193 may be adjusted vertically with relation to the bar 92 so that when this bar is moved verticall as will hereinafter appear, the beveled' aces 94 of the blocks 93 ma be car ried below the corres ending beve ed faces 41 of the frames 38 an the body of the block be brou ht into the path of these frames 38, thus loc ing them against movement toward the contiguous end partition of the casing.

At the same time others of these blocks 93 may be so adjusted that when the bar 92 is lowered they will remain out of the path of the beveled faces 41 of the frames 38. In

order to readily reach the adjusting screws 95 whereby the vertical position of the blocks 93,

maybe determined, the corresponding end of the casin is provided with a slot 124 covered b a p ate 125 secured to the casing by suitab e screws. At intervals the crossbar 92 provided with vertically extending uide arms 97 having retaining brackets 98 set to the end of the casing so that this bar, together with its guide arms, is free to move vertically. Each guide arm 97*," of which there is usually arranged one for each six compartments more or less, is provided with -two parallel laterally extending arms 99 between which is located a cam 100 mounted on a shaft 101 passing through the several partitions 2 and out through the side of the casing remote from that to which the voter is admitted. Outside the casing the shai t 101 has fast thereon aspring manipulating arm-102, the end 103 of which is formed into a tooth engaging notches 104 in the casing, which notches are best shown in Fig. 9. This permits the arm 102 to be moved in a direction to rotate the shaft 101, and the finget 103 will when-over a notch 104 spring therein-and so hold the shaft from rotation except when sufficient force is exerted to overcome the forcei of its resiliency, and cause it ride out of theiiotch. .VVithin the easmg the shaft'101 is provided with a notched disk 105 arranged to be engaged by a bolt 106 which can only be reached byan authorized person. Thus the machine ma he set to operate for any desired number 0 candidates within the capacity of the machine and those spaces which are not used are locked against manipulation. It will be understood, of course, that the push-buttons 34 of those push-bars 27 which'are locked out of operation will be replaced by puslrbuttons 36 which, as before explained, are inoperative to the voter.

' The operation of the machine has been described 1n part and will be apparent from the fore oing description. Assuming that the 0 line is ready for a voter, the latter entors thebooth where the n'm chinc is and it he wishes to vote astraight party ticket he turns the proper crank 47 Which will register one.vote eac for all the candidates under the party name. Should, l1owever,-l1e door a may e die ,so t lat when the voter leaves the plate dates for the same ollice. He may then push any button in any other line he pleases and this will look all the other buttons in that longitudinal line, and-so on. for an candidates he leases so longas he votes or but one oandi ate in any one longi tudinal line. If he attempts to vote any push button not having a name opposite it,

e will find that push-button inoperative because in such place there is a short push-button.- This short push-button is provided simply to prevent a voter frombeing confused by finding an operative push-button opposite a s ace where no candldates name appears, ant he'is therefore revented from casting a blank vote. 1 hen the voter leaves the booth the'j ud e -will turn the handle 89'and reset the IIlflCTllIlB, or this ma be done automaticallv. For instance, the 'an-' dle 89 on the shaft 69 maybe connected to He may vote the door of the booth by suitable mechanism indicated by the link 126 in Fig. '1, so that when the door is opened themachine is set, latform u on which the voter stands rovided and connected to this hanform" the machine is set,or even-when the voter first steps on the platform the machine may be set, In fact, any automatic means for fihe'purpose may be provided if so desire 1 Provision is made at one end of the machine for; the casting of votes for ersons whose names 'do not appear upon t e machine and which maybe designated irregular. votes, meaning simply that the votes are not those. for regular arty nominees. The irregular vote receptaclias are shown at the right-hand end of the machine, as viewed in Figs. 1- and 2; ;Atthis point the cover section 12 is provided with the'contiguous slots 17and 19 passing entirely therethrough and beneath each of these slots is located a flat narrow chute 107 having its upper end flaring and provided with a lateral li as shown at 108, and located close beneat the lower slot 19 in the cover section 12. This chute 107 is open at the lower end but under normal conditions this lower end is closed by a fixed plate 109 fast .on one of'the partitions 2. The chute 107 is provided about midway of its vertical height with trunnions 110 journaled in brackets 111 fast on oneof the partitions 2, the arrangement being such that this chute 107 may be turned on its trunnions to carry its end 108 out of line 'with the slots 17 and 19. lower end each chute carries an angle bracket Near the I l J. I

to the vertlcal, and in thisslot there engages a pm .114 fast on a bracket 115 carried by the ush-bar 27 arranged to operate this partieudertlielcontrol of the voters, each connecte ar chute 107 now being descrihed. Now, I to said register,

when a voter desires to cast an irregular means actuated by a vo'terthrows the regis'-' v0te, he depresses the push-bar adjacent to the slot in the cover section 12, and in the line of the office for which he desires to vote. This tilts the chute 107 until the opening in the top of the chute is in alinement with and immediately beneath the' slots 17 and 19. Then the voter inserts a card upon which is written or printedthe nameof the person he wishes to vote for, but which name-is not found among those of the regularly nomi' nated candidates displayed on the'lnachine The card or vote falls through the chute 107 until arrested by the plate 109. T he depression of the push-button 34 corresponding to the vote just past will lock the push-buttons of all oithe regularly named candidates'for 107 is turned upon its trunjnions until the ripthe same oifi ce, so that the voter is prevented from voting f or any of the regularly. named candidates for thesameollice if he casts-his vot'efor one of those not named on the machine. When the machine is reset the chute per end is outiof alinement with the slots 17 and 19 and the lower end hasheen carried away from the plate 109, thuspermitting the z card or vote to fall into the corresponding coi'npa'rtment of'the box or drawer. 11.6 16- c ated 'heneath the several chutes 1 07; 'lli'e push-b are 27 provided. for. the irregula rvotes have threaded bosses 117 so arranged thattwo or more of them may he attached together by a plate or bar toprovide for the cumulative so that anyone desiring to vote through. the

card chutes under the, cumulative system,

where the latter isj-prevalent, can vote in any one of the card chutes and the others will all be locked at thesame time. For instance, inj th'e State of Illinois eumulativevoting for Representatives is in vogue, and all the card chutes'which agree to the Representatives will he locked together by means of the bosses 117, so that while any one of the chutes rovided for the Representatives may' he use to cast the vote, a!l the other chutes connected thereto will he lockezl'a ainst fur th'er manipul atioii when the one has?) een used. The box or dr'awer 116 is introduced below th'eichutes 107 through a door IIShin'ged at its upperedge to the corresponding end of the casing, as shown at 119, and this drawer is provided at its ends with inwardly projecting wings 120 through which and through the various partitions of the l ox'or-dra er may he passed a rod 121. having a h'eazl l 22 at one end and n. theother end perforated for the reception of a lock 123, so that this drawer may he securely locked in the .asing against unauthorized removal.

voting prevalent in some places,

and means whereby the first ter out of connection with all the other means I controlled by the voters.

number of voters, push-buttons or keys for the several candidates to be voted fen-con:

' throws the register out. of connection with all the other push-buttons or keys.

anism for moving said register step b yste and ratchet mechanism, ushbars, Zone for each of the. several eanth ates to he meted ing the rock arms and Qmo'ving :a'll ithelroc arms sunultaneously.

the control "of voters, flugs thereon,

iroc'k arn s,jotlier arms on the, shafts, a com mon' conneetmg bar for all'ofthe'Froelo a; re nster for the number of 1ypters, -anl paw and-fratehet actuating.means ftorg sa register.'

neetions'hetwieen all t-lie'roclkarmsifor min:

for reset-t'ing'the operatingpushgbars'.

6. In a voting inachinm'pu h-hars', one for one rock arm through 'a push-bar movies 111 tion of all the rock arms to movefliem"-t0'the initial position and also. toreturn the'sliding members to the initial. osition.

push-bars controlled thereby arranged in tiers to represent the candidates tube-voted for, and means on each push-haridrenga -1.90

sn-' bars are. depressed, rock hafts'}ca rrying';tl1e

' .5. In a voting 'lhmchine, longitudinally- 7. In a .voting mac tine, voting-keys and 2. In 'a voting machine, a register-for the. a 7 5 nectio'ns between the push-buttons or keys andthe register of the number of voters,.and -1ne ai1s whereby the movement offthe first push hutton or key operated byf-a voter-a0 a voting machine, a register-for the nulnler of voters, a pawl-.and-ratchet mech- .535 intereonnectedroek arms operatingsa'id paw 4. [ha vot g machinel-pushsharskinder b at on its' mo\'rement;jn' one direction orbi195 mneous movement thereof, 'andmeans'lfor f movmgthe rock arms' n thereve'rse direct-Ion each of the several candidates to-bevoted for I of the voter, :sliding,

y each push-bar,-interconnecting means iiorf the rock arms whereby the movement'pf. -an

.120 the other rock arms out of engagement with the push-bars,'other'roek am s,'oneinopera'tive relationto each series ofslidingumem a hers, and meansfor the'simultaneous operaj.

fast on each shaft, a common connection for all these last-named arms, series of sliding members, one series for each series of votingkeys corresponding to an ol'lice to be voted for, otherrock arms on one only of the rock shafts and eacharranged in operative -rela-' tion to the series of sliding members, and means for simultaneously moving all the rock arms to the initial position.

8., In a voting ma hine, a number of longitudinal series of voting-keys and push-bars corresponding to the offices to be voted for, a coacting series of sliding members under the control of any one key of, a ser es and locked against movement by the operation of any one key, sliding. blocks simultaneously movable into the paths-of the series of sliding members and each block being independ' ently adjustable to a position to maintain it out of the path of the sliding members when i the unadjusted blocks are movable into the aths of these members, a common support or all the sliding blocks, aseriespfcams engaging the common support at two or-more points, a shaft for the cams, and'means for rotating the shaft whereby the block support will have the same extent of movement throughout its length under the action of the cams.

D, In avotin machine a number of lo tudinal series of voting keys and push-bars corresponding to the'offices to. be voted for, a coacting series of sliding members under the control of any one key of a series and locked against movement by the operation of any one key, sliding blocks simultaneously movable in to the paths of the series of sliding members and each block being independently adj ustable to a position to maintain it out of the path of the sliding members when the unadjusted blocks are movable into the aths of these members, a common support'.

or allthe'sliding blocks, a series of cams en gaging thecommon support at two or more points, ashaft for the cams, and means for rotating the shaft comprising a spring arm and a circular series of notches or seats for the spring end of said arm whereby the shaft -may be completely rotated but will be held at any predetermined point of rotation against accidental movement;

10. In a voting machine, a number .of longitudinal series of votingkeys and push bars corresponding to the oilices to be voted for, a enacting series of. sliding members I under the control of any one key of a series and locked against movement b the opera tion ofany one key, slidingib ocks sunultaneously movable into the aths of the series of sliding members and each block being independently adjustable to a position to maintain it out of-the ath of the slid members when .the uiia jn sted blocks are movable into thepaths 0 'these members, a common support for all the sliding blocks, a senes of cams engaging the common su port at two .or more points, a shaft for tie cams, means for rotating the shaft comprismg a spring arm and a circular series of notches for seats for the spring end ,of said arm whereby the shaft may be completely rotated but will be held at any predetermined point of rotation against accidental ing of anotched disk rotating. with said shaft "and a fixed bolt movable into the'notches.

11. a voting machine, push bars for operating the voting mechanism, removable keys for actuatin the ush bars, and other keys of shorter length 1; an a1 d intcrchan eab e with the first named keys, whereby the active usli bars may be -r.endered inactive.

12. n a voting machine, push-bars for operating the voting mechanism and formed with soc et5 &l3 tl18ll upper ends, push-buttons having portions ada tedto said sockets,

stems of less diameter t an the sockets and heads of greater diameter than the stems, and locking meansembracing the stems for preventing the withdrawal of the portions of'the push-buttons seated in the socketed ends of the push-bars. V

13. Info voting -machine, push-bars for operating. the voting mechanism and provlded with sockets attheir apper-ends, headed push buttons having en arged portions'fitted ,to said sockets 'and stems of smallerdiameter connecting the enlarged portions to the heads, and a sliding lockm member having openings of difierent widt to permit the passage of the enlar ed por-, tions of the push-buttons and to ock thesame against withdrawal from the socketed 'ends of the push-bars. 14. In "a voting machine, push-bars for operating the voting-mechanism and rovided with socketed ends, ,headed ushuttons havingport-ionsadapted to sai socketed ends and seated therein and rovided with stems of differentlengths', and coking means for holdin the push-buttons to the pushbars, the ength'of the, stems of the pushbuttons determining the extent of movement 'pf said push-buttons,

15. In a voting machine, push-bars having socketed ends, push-buttons having portions adapted to said socketed ends and seated thefein and having stems of less diameter than the portions seated in the pushbars, a fixed member-arran ed between the push-bars and the heads of t e push-buttons and having perforations large enough to perting the passage of the enlarged portions of the push-buttons and slots leading from-said openings of less widththan the openings but 0 sufiioient widthto permit the passageof the stemsonly of the push-b uttons. I

16. In a voting machine, voting-keys having heads at one end, enlarged portions at the other end and connecting stems of less diameter than the enlarged portions, -means for locking the push-b uttons a ainst removal comprising a composite bar ormed of top and bottom plates fixed to the machine and an intermediate slidin plate, the three plates having matching er orations large enough for the passage 0 the enlarged portions of the push-buttons and the sliding plate having slot extensions of the perforations large enough for the passage of the stems of the push-buttons but too small for the passage ofthe enlarged portions of the push-buttons, and a lock for engaging the sliding plate when thelatter is in the position Where the slottedf' portions engage the stems of the push-buttons.

11. In a voting machine, a top therefor composed of a series of fixed bars spaced apart are removable sections between these bars oontainingpassages for the na e-plates or cards and slots for exposing th names, and means for lockin the name-carrying sections between the ars and closing the passages against the removal of the nameplates or cards.

1.8. In a voting machine, a top therefor having fixed bars spaced apart and composed of top and bottom fixed members and an intermediate sliding member provided with a lockin tongue on one side and coact- .ing with the ed members to form a groove along the other side of each bar, andremovable sections composed of top and bottom members and anintermediate member coacting with the top and bottom members to form a tongue along one edge to fit the groove in the fixed bars and having on the other edge-a seat for the locking tongue on the sliding member of the fixed'bars.

19. *In' a voting machine, a 'top therefor having fixed bars spaced apart and composed of top and bottom fixed members and an intermediate sliding member provided with a locking ton e on one side and coacting with the fixe members to form a groove along the other 'side of each bar, and removable sections composed of top and bottom members and an intermediate member coacting-with the top and bottom members to form a tongue along one edge to fit the groove in the fixed bars and having on theother ed e a seat for the locking tongue on the slic ling member of the fixed-bars, the top member of the removable sections being provided with slots and the intermediate mem- CLARENCE MORRIS WARNER.

Witnesses:

ELMER ANDERSON, GEORGE W. Romans. 

